Global confectionery company Ferrero Group plans to invest up to $214 million to expand its chocolate processing and product manufacturing plant in Bloomington, Illinois, creating up to 200 new jobs and making the site one of its biggest production lines outside of Europe.
The expansion comes hot on the heels of Ferrero starting construction on its Bloomington facility, which is slated to start up in 2023. Work on the 169,000-sq-ft addition is expected to start by this fall and will make the company’s popular Kinder Bueno chocolate bar. After launching in North America in 2019, the Kinder Bueno brand grew more than 50 percent last year to $167 million, the company said.
“The investments we’re making in Bloomington are fueling continued growth for Ferrero in North America and are also creating important job opportunities in the community,” Todd Siwak, President and Chief Business Officer of Ferrero North America, said in a press release. “We are thrilled to continue growing here with the invaluable support of the City of Bloomington, McLean County, and the State of Illinois.”
One of the biggest chocolate and confectionary companies in the world, Ferrero is also known for its Ferrero Rocher chocolates, Nutella hazelnut spread, and other products. In 2018, it also acquired the Butterfinger, Crunch Bar, Baby Ruth, and other candy brands from Nestle.
John Atkinson: Illinois is righting the ship for economic development
Originally published here in the Chicago Tribune Growing tired of the same old doom and gloom from those who make their living disparaging Illinois? So am I. Let’s look at what’s really happening here in our great state. For the 11th year in a row, Site Selection Magazine ranked Chicago-Naperville-Elgin as the No. 1 metro area for…
Illinois Poised to Lead SAF Industry
Illinois leaders are coming together around sustainable aviation fuel Illinois is positioned to lead in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a burgeoning industry with the potential to significantly alter the transport of goods and travel. SAF is an alternative fuel made from non-petroleum feedstocks and is increasingly recognized as a critical component in reducing greenhouse gas…
Illinois’ Power Play: Pioneering EV at EV Industry Day 2024
Team Illinois to Host EV Industry Day 2024 The electric vehicle (EV) industry is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technological novelty and environmental sustainability — and at a critical time in our planet’s history. As the world eagerly shifts toward cleaner energy solutions, Illinois is emerging as a pivotal hub for EV companies and…
